REST vs HESTA
Side-by-side comparison of the two funds on the numbers that actually matter: long-term net return, fees at your balance, asset mix, and insurance defaults.
| Metric | REST | HESTA | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-year net return (MySuper) | 7.40% | 7.60% | HESTA |
| Annual fee at $50,000 | $398 | $470 | REST |
| Annual fee at $250,000 | $1,678 | $2,090 | REST |
| MySuper product | Core Strategy | Balanced Growth | |
| Asset mix (MySuper) | Growth 75 / Defensive 25 | Growth 72 / Defensive 28 | |
| Assets under management | $90B+ | $90B+ | |
| Members | 1.9M+ | 1M+ | |
| APRA assessment | Performing | Performing | |
| Choice options | 9 | 10 |
Which is better for you?
Over 10 years, HESTA has outperformed by roughly 0.20 percentage points per year. On a $250,000 balance held for 20 years at the average return, a 1 p.p. return gap compounds to roughly $90,000 — so even small return differences add up.
On fees, at a $50,000 balance REST is cheaper ($72 difference per year). At a $250,000 balance the fee winner is REST. The percentage component of fees matters more as balance grows.
REST is better if
- Huge member base, much of it young — strong fit for first-job workers
- Reasonable fees for a mid-sized fund
- Rest Super App is well-regarded for low-friction engagement
HESTA is better if
- Insurance and member servicing aligned to health/community sector
- Strong ESG integration
- Reasonable fees
Things neither fund fixes
- Performance test results change yearly — check the APRA heatmap before you decide
- Default insurance may not match your actual cover needs
- Switching funds cancels your existing insurance — check health status first
Full fund reviews
Read the complete reviews: REST · HESTA. Or use the compare-funds tool to add any pair and your own balance.
General information only — not financial advice. Super decisions are long-term; verify with a licensed adviser.